Fuel composition



United States Patent Ofiice 3,115,399

Patented Dec. 24, 1963 3,115,399 FUEL CQMPUSITION Byron E. Marsh,Broolrtield, and Donald J. Tucelr, icero, llh, assignors, by mcsneassignments, to Armour and Company, Chicago, TEL, a corporation ofDelaware No Drawing. Filed Aug. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 46,356 8 Qlaims. (Cl.44-66) This invention relates to improved motor fuel compositions andparticularly to motor fuel compositions used in carbureted internalcombustion engines.

It is well-known that automobiles often stall during cool, humid weatherbefore the engine has warmed up. This condition is caused by iceaccumulation in the carburetor and, specifically, it is caused by theformation of ice on the throttle plate and on the wall surrounding thethrottle plate. The icing condition ordinarily will occur when therelative humidity is above about 50%, when the outside air temperatureis between about 25 F. and 60 F, and when the engine is still cold andoperating at a reduced load and speed.

The vaporization of the gasoline in the carburetor causes arefrigerating effect whereby the temperature of the throttle plate andthe wall surrounding the throttle plate is reduced to a temperaturesubstantially below that of the incoming air. As the relatively moistair passes over the cooled throttle plate and wall area, moisture willcondense, and when the freezing point is reached, ice will form on thethrottle plate and on the surrounding walls. Since the engine isoperating at a reduced load and speed, the throttle will be onlyslightly open. Because the throttle'is only slightly open, iceaccumulation will disturb the air fuel ratio so as to cause enginebucking. Ultimately the engine will stall when ice completely closes offthe fiow of air.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fuelcomposition which is designed to reduce or eliminate carburetor icing.It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved gasolinefuel composition which contains a minor amount of cle-icing additive.Further objects and purposes of this invention will become obvious asthe specification proceeds.

To accomplish the objects as set out above, an improved motor fuelcomposition has now been discovered which comprises a motor fuel and aminor amount of a zwitterion salt which may be illustrated by thegeneral formula,

N III R" wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of ahydrogen atom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical. having from aboutone to three carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalhaving from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R is a radicalselected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatichydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms,wherein X is an integer ranging from to about 4, Y is an integer rangingfrom about 2 to about 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals coming within the meaning ofR are methyl, ethyl, and propyl.

Examples of aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals coming within the meaning ofR and R are hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl,tridecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl, pentadecyl, hexadecyl, hexadecenyl,heptadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, octadecatrienyl,nonadecyl, eicosyl, heneicosyl, docosyl. It is preferred that thesealiphatic hydrocarbon radicals have from about 12 to about 18 carbonatoms.

Mixtures of these salts may readily be utilized in our invention. Bothaliphatic hydrocarbon radicals R and R" may be derived from certainnaturally occurring fats and oils, such as soy bean oil, coconut oil,tallow, and the like. Tallow ordinarily comprises a mixture of thefollowing aliphatic radicals: dodecyl, tetradecyl, tetradecenyl,hexadecyl, hexadecenyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl, octadecadienyl, andeicosyl. Coconut oil or cocoa ordinarily comprises the mixture of hexyl,octyl, decyl, dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, octadecenyl,and octadecadienyl radicals. Soy bean oil or soya ordinarily comprisesthe mixture of hexadecyl, octadecyl, eicosyl, octadecenyl,octadecadienyl, and octadecatrienyl radicals.

The letter X in the above formula represents the number of moles ofmethylene which may be used at the position indicated in the generalformula. As already mentioned, X may vary from 0 to about 4. It ispreferred that the number of moles of methylene represented by X be one.The letter Y also represents the number of moles of methylene which maybe used at the position indicated by the general formula. Y may rangefrom 2 to about 6. It is preferred that the number of moles of methylenerepresented by Y be '3.

When the letter Z is one, the compound is a mono-salt. When the letter Zis two, the compound is a di-salt.

Minor amounts of this compound may be added to a motor fuel in order toaccomplish the objects as previously set out. It should be mentionedthat for best results, it is preferred that the salt which is added besoluble in the motor fuel. Generally, good results are obtained when theconcentration of our compound is from about 5 parts per million to about10,000 parts per million. Ordinarily, concentrations will vary fromabout 20 ppm. to 200 ppm. It is desired that a sufiicient amount ofadditive be used so that good results will be obtained, while at thesame time using a relatively minor amount so as to keep the cost at aminimum.

Our compound may be added to any motor fuel. Usually the compound isadded to a motor fuel which is a mixture of hydrocarbons boiling in thegasoline boiling range. Since conditions required for carburetor icingordinarily do not occur unless winter grade gasoline is being used, ourcompound will usually be added only to winter grade gasoline. It shouldbe noted that a winter grade gasoline actually contributes to carburetoricing because of the higher volatility which has a greater refrigeratingeffect. A typical winter grade gasoline ordinarily does not have an ASTM50% distillation value in excess of about 250 F. However, generally, the50% ASTM distillation value will be below this.

In order to illustrate the improved results which are obtained whenusing our gasoline composition, we conducted tests which are describedas follows:

The air temperatures were maintained at about 40 F. Tests were run atrelative humidities of and to The gasoline employed was a typicalvolatile winter grade gasoline having an ASTM distillation range of 10%ait108 F, 50% at 186 F., and 90% at 292 F. The engine used was a 1957Buick engine having a factory radiator, manifold, carburetor and anautomatic choke. The air cleaner, radiator fan, thermo stat and fastidle linkage were removed or disconnected for purposes ofreproduceability. After the engine was started, it was accelerated to1500 rpm. (no load) and maintained at this speed for 1 minute. Then thespeed was reduced to idle and allowed 30 seconds idle time. Thisprocedure constitutes one cycle. If the engine did not stall, during the30 second idle time, the cycle was repeated. During the 30 second idletime, any engine bucking was noted. If the engine stalled during theidle time, it was restarted and the steps of starting, accelerating to1500 r.p.m., maintaining at this speed for 1 minute and then reducing toidle for 30 seconds, were repeated. The cycle was repeated until thethrottle plate temperature rose above 32 F. or until there were threecomplete cycles without any stalling or bucking with a minimum of 10complete cycles constituting a test. The compound added to the gasolinein this test was RD 3063-P (N-oleyl trirnethylene diamine salt ofn-tallow 6- amino butyric acid). Concentrations tested were 50 ppm. and100 ppm. at 75% and 90% to 95% relative humidity. Following are theresults which were obtained:

TABLE 1 Total Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 05% PJLID 50100 50 100 ED 3063-1, 9 7 1O 8 Base Fuel 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 12to 15 TABLE 2 Total Stalls Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95% 50 100 50100 7 7 10 8 Base FueL- 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 12 to 15 TABLE 3Percent Reduction in Stalls and Bucks Relative Humidity 75% 90% to 95%P.p.m 50 100 50 100 RD 30634, percent 33 53 33 47 TABLE 4 PercentReduction in Stalls Relative Humidity n 75% 90% to 95% P.p.m 50 100 50100 RD 3063-1, percent 42 46 23 38 Now that the invention has beendescribed, what we claim is:

1. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture ofhydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about 5 to 10,000ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

wherein R is a radical selected from the group consisting of a hydrogenatom and an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 toabout 3 carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalcontaining from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein R is a radicalselected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and an aliphatichydrocarbon radical containing from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms,wherein X is an integer ranging from about to about 4, Y is an integerranging from about 2 to about 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to2.

2. Animprov ed motor fuel consisting essentially of a mixture ofhydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range and about to 10,000ppm. of a compound having the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 toabout 3 carbon atoms, wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalcontaining from about 6 to about 22 carbon atoms, wherein X is aninteger ranging from about 0 to 4, Y is an integer ranging from about 2to 6, and Z is an integer ranging from 1 to 2.

4. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter gradegasoline and from about 5 ppm. to about 10,000 ppm. of a compound havingthe general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 to3 carbon atoms, and wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalcontaining from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

5. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter gradegasoline and from about 5 ppm. to about 10,000 ppm. of a compound havingthe general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 1 to3 carbon atoms, and wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radicalcontaining from about 12 to about 18 carbon atoms.

6. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter gradegasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compoundhaving the general formula,

R R, r t i CHaOH-CH2COOH HN(CH:)3NR

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing from about 12to 18 carbon atoms.

7. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter gradegasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compoundhaving the general formula,

wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon radical containing, from about 12to 18 carbon atoms.

8. An improved motor fuel consisting essentially of winter gradegasoline and from about 20 ppm. to about 200 ppm. of a soluble compoundhaving the general References Cited in the file of this patent UNITEDSTATES PATENTS formula, P

R H 2,851,345 Marsh et a1 Sept. 9, 1958 H H 5 2,886,423 Vitalis et a1May 12, 1959 2,902,353 Becker et a1. Sept. 1, 1959 1 mam-PC0013 F2,915,376 Raifsnider Dec. 1, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Petroleum RefiningWith Chemicals, by Kalichevsky et a1., 1956, Elsevier Pub. Co., page480.

wherein R is a fatty alkyl group, derived from -tallow and R is an oleylradical.

1. AN IMPROVED MOTOR FUEL CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A MIXTURE OFHYDOCARBONS BOILING IN THE GASOLINE BOILING RANGE AND ABOUT 5 TO 10,000P.P.M. OF A COMPOUND HAVING THE GENERAL FORMULA.